Elaine's Tale -Be Careful with Magnifiers!

Elaine brought a wonderful jukebox from Robyn's Nest for David's suggestions. It's a great canvas. Elaine is going to give it to her grandson. With David's suggestions, and Elaine's stitching, he should treasure it forever.

But Elaine couldn't figure out what had happened to a canvas she had almost finished. The canvas looked like it had a burn mark. She said some of the stitched threads had disappeared and the paint color had changed. Elaine thought that perhaps the cleaning lady had spilled some chemical on it. But I asked if she had her magnifier on the canvas and she had. The sun's rays hitting the uncovered magnifier caused the canvas to burn

Elaine is the second customer who has burned a canvas because the magnifier was left uncovered.

She also shared a saying "Don't cry over things that can't cry over me." But please don't leave your magnifier uncovered by a window. It's very dangerous. YOu could lose more than a canvas.

David McCaskill's class

On the last day of his visit, David worked on some wonderful canvases. He gave Nancy some more ideas for the Yankee Stadium canvas which she will share with the class. In addition, Susan asked him for suggestions for Rockefeller Center. He had some great suggestions for the angels and the Star and the ice.

He gave Martha some suggestions for the fabulous Melissa Shirley Chinese monkey. It's a huge canvas but he had wonderful suggestions. We used so many threads we have to restock!

He promises to return next year so let us know if you are interested.

Melissa Shirley's Stitchers

I have always loved Melissa Shirley's stitchers. Wouldn't that make a great class. I would suggest different stitches and fibers and the result is that each person's piece would be different. Let me know if you would be interested. I'm interested in teaching it in the fall or winter. I'll get a picture up but it's on her web page under Just for Fun = The Stitching Club.

David McCaskill classes

Today is the last day with David McCaskill. Jill will be returning for her second day while Nancy, Marianne and Susan will be here for their third day! It's always interesting to see what David suggests for a wide variety of classes. For Judy and Karen, he suggested wonderful flowers and foliage for the Vogue Lady in the Garden from Needlepoint Broad. I've seen it done before with stitches suggested by David and it is one of the most beautiful pieces I've seen!

Nancy is working on a whimsical view of Central Park. David used lots of boucle to get the foliage. Although none of us can figure out what the pink square is.

Susan and David worked on a a Rebecca Woods piece. The mountains were so effective done in a brick stitch with snow!

Janet worked on a Sharon G piece of a New Orleans door. The canvas itself has so many subtle color changes. Janet was amazed to see how David's suggestions let the color come through.

Nancy worked on a Nan Hempel piece and L'hiver from Birds of a Feather. THe pine trees are looking fantastic.

Linda and David worked on a Melissa Shirley piece of a group of women stitchers. Linda loved David's suggestions for the hair.

I got stitches and threads for L'Autumne Girl and hope to get a few for the no long distributed Harlequin Great Dane by Constance Coleman (distributed by Amanda Lawford). He has such incredible personality.

I'm exhausted and I wasn't teaching or stitching! I can't wait to see what people are bringing today.

A day with David is a great experience.

August Paper Doll

Today, Sally and I spent most of our day getting the August paper dolls on their way. By the end of today, almost all the dolls have been sent out. It was a great one to do.

I'm not mulling over how to handle the Ridgewood Exclusive outfit. I have some great ideas that I can't wait to try.1

David's Visit

I picked up David at the airport late this afternoon. He's looking forward to this weekend. I can't wait to see the canvases people have chosen. I know that there will be some surprises. It's always interesting to see what people choose to work on.

Some of the best canvases I've seen have resulted from a session with David.

David McCaskill Will Be Here This Weekend

We are all looking forward to David McCaskill's visit this weekend. Customers are picking out their canvases and having them put on stretcher bars so they can be ready. We are totally full for Sunday but still have one or two openings for Saturday or Monday. It's a great opportunity to learn some new embellishment techniques.

I'm thinking of doing the Autumn Girl myself and a wonderful discontinued canvas of a Great Dane.

Last season at Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium

I know it's probably heresy to note that both the Yankees and Mets are leaving their long time homes in the same season. But as I was listening to the radio in my travels, I know that both are moving to new stadiums next year. I also know that lots of stitchers like to stitch while listening/watching baseball.

So for those who are Mets or Yankee fans or those who have them in their families, wouldn't it be perfect to be stitching Yankee Stadium or Shea Stadium this year? We have both canvases at the store. And there's still time to join the Stadium class that has its first meeting this Sunday.

We have one Mets Stadium in stock and could get another one here by Sunday if we knew today or tomorrow. We also have a Yankee Stadium in stock.

Just think of all those hours of baseball ahead!

Carole Lake's Fabulous Class

Helen and I took Carole Lake's Class "How to Write a Stitch guide" on Saturday. It was a great class. We learned a lot and came away with another stitch book that will be very valuable. She also had wonderful suggestions for faces and hair.

I spoke with Carole about doing St. Basil's at Ridgewood Needlepoint. She's interested but I need to make sure you are since it is a four day class. Of course, it would be great to have her also teach the "How to Write a Stitch Guide".

I always feel so fortunate that I am able to take classes with such great teachers. Carole is one of the best.

Stars Canvas

Sandra H. has completed her Stars project and is just waiting to take it to the framer.
We will be posting the picture of Royalty on our web site in the near future. As our students complete the other colors, we'll post them too.

Threadworx

We just got in our first shipment of Threadworx, the company that has a conversion chart from Needle Necessities. I ordered colors that were good for landscapes. Some of them are really beautiful.

Finished Pillows

At the store, we see a lot of finished items. Some of them are done at our more expensive finisher. She does a fabulous job selecting fabrics and trimmings for items. But of course, that takes time.

Other pillows do not require such fancy finishing. But sometimes, a customer wants a very decorative pillow but doesn't want to spend as much as the top end finishers cost.

This weekend, we had several wonderful examples of pillows that were finished by our regular finisher. She did her normally great job of finishing the pillows. But the end product was definitely enhanced by the customer's outstanding choice fabric and trim.

I thought you would enjoy seeing two of these pillows. One was done by Ellen. I don't have the other customer's name here at home. Both pillows are outstanding!

Tussie Mussie

I just caught up with Terry this week. She took the Tussie Mussie class at Deborah Wilson's Cabin Fever. She said it was a really fun piece and very doable in two days.

So let us know if you are interested. We are taking registrations now for the class being held on Sunday and Monday, October 26 & 27th.

Melissa Shirley's Web Site

Melissa Shirley just emailed me the link to her website: /www.melissashirleydesigns.com/

Remember I missed the show, so it was fun to look at the just released designs in addition to those from January. I love the egret designs from the winter show.

For those of you who love butterflies, there are some beautiful ones.

Melissa went crazy for gardens this spring. She has bird houses, butterflies and formal gardens in addition to just wonderful garden scenes. I also loved some of the flowers.

Take a peak. We'll be glad to get you what you want.

I Hate Being Sick

I'm still home with the flu but I was able to spend a little more time on work related items. I've ordered some Threadworx, the new company whose threads are replacements for Needle Necessities. I'm looking forward to getting these threads in.

I'm planning on doing some stitching tonight and hope to be at the store tomorrow.

People are definitely planning what canvases they are bringing to David McCaskill. I've ordered the Autumn Girl and have a discontinued Great Dane that I want to do for my daughter Emma.

Upcoming classes

It's not too late to sign up for the City Snow class (or as we call it, the Coat Ladies. I need to order the canvases by April 1 so if you haven't registered and want to join us, call the store. The class is being held on three Sunday afternoons. It's the perfect class to use some of your stash up if you choose. I will also have a kit available if you want to replicate what I did.

Cathryn is teaching David McCaskill's Stitcher's Purse over 3 sessions. They will be held on Sunday mornings. I have 6 people registered so there is still room for one more.

Finally, the Stadium class in also scheduled for three times on Sunday afternoon. I think one date is being changed but it will start on April 13. You can see pictures and more information on our web site.

OOPs, I forgot. There may be one or two openings for David McCaskill on Saturday, April 26th. Call if you want to save that place. 201-612-7770

We are really excited about these classes!

My last blog didn't post

I do try to keep current with the blog. Sometimes, I'm better at it than others. But this weekend, I posted a blog that somehow never made it the the blog page itself.

I was thinking that this Easter we did so few eggs. It's hard to know if it was because Easter was so early this year. But it means we can get back into the egg swing next year.

I've been home with the flu so I don't know exactly what's going on at the store. I've been trying to work on my designs for the Design for Embroidery class with Mary Shipp and my next design for the NAN certification program.

In between, I have done a little stitching on the Old World Stitching Santa. Kelly Clark outdid herself with this piece.

Easter in early March

Fortunately, Easter is rarely this early. In fact, only those 95 and over have ever observed an Easter this early and the next one this early won't be for over 100 years.

In the store, we did far fewer Easter eggs. Somehow, no one seemed to realize that it was this early until it was too late! I'm working on the Old World Stitching Santa and it doesn't seem out of season yet.

Of course, I am enjoying the forsythia we bought. I love the bright and cheery flowers -- they seem to promised that spring is coming. I was thinking that I haven't seen a canvas of forsythia although it would make a great canvas for embellishment.

I also had a chance to look at the classes for The National Needlework Trade Show in June. There are some great technique classes that I am looking forward to taking. Sign-up is tomorrow so I'll be waiting at 10 AM.

Calendar

We are trying a new calendar. We had one once before but you couldn't see what was written.

Go to the events sections. There is a trial version of the calendar. Dates with an event will be highlighted. You bring your mouse over the date and it gives you the information about the class.

Let me know what you think.

Stitching the Old World Stitching Santa

I've been enjoying stitching the Old World Stitching Santa. I love seeing it take life. For those of you who want to take a mini class in it, I think it would be best to just do the plaid shawl and the basket in a class. So far, most of the other stitches are familiar. The complicated part is the shawl and the basket.